Korea Style

Simplicity, tradition and a deep respect for all things natural--these are the essential elements of Korean design underpinning the nation’s fast-growing creative scene.

Influences from China, Japan and the West have filtered into Korea, but the peninsula has always maintained its own identity. Spatial, spiritual and material qualities are reflected in the simple beauty of its architecture, while classic objects with a Korean aesthetic are used with panache in interior decor.

This is the first book to document Korea’s architecture and design scene. Authors Marcia Iwatate and Kim Unsoo present 24 exceptional homes, studios and heritage projects. Ranging from vernacular to cutting-edge contemporary, these showcase the nation’s constant drive to invent and create.

Marcia Iwatate is one of the leading professionals in the Japanese design and food industry. She is the author of Eat.Work.Shop., and the co-author of Japan Houses and Shunju: New Japanese Cuisine, which won a James Beard Award in 2004.

Kim Unsoo was born in Korea and educated in the United States. She has worked in the contemporary art field in both New York and Seoul. She lives in Seoul with her husband and two children.

Photographer Lee Jongkeun has become one of Korea’s foremost photographers of interiors, food, and products since establishing Apo Associates in 1995. He works actively in the field of advertising and regularly contributes to design and lifestyle magazines. He is currently photo director for Marie Claire and Maison Marie Claire and also publishes catalogs and books from his firm Guru Visual.